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Eleven people were killed and some 40 wounded in two explosions on August 5 and 6 in western Afghanistan. On Friday, the bomb exploded at a funeral in a Shiite neighborhood of Kabul, an attack claimed by the Afghan branch of the Islamic State organization. On Saturday, the explosion took place in a neighboring neighborhood where many Hazaras, Shiites, reside. In this environment, the religious minority celebrates its most important religious festival, Ashura.
With Sonia Ghezali, special envoy in a Shia neighborhood of Herat, in western Afghanistan
Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed and son of Ali, killed in 680 by the troops of the Umayyad Caliph during a battle in the Kerbala desert.
In the Shiite district of Jibrail, dozens of black, green and red flags wave from the windows of houses and shops. As tradition dictates, arches covered with black cloth have been erected as a sign of mourning. The speakers play religious songs.
“We are very stressed and scared because the Shiites in Kabul, Herat and other places are being attacked. But these celebrations are very important to us and we believe in God,” says Marzie Reza, who watches the street from her landing.
She will go to the mosque despite the risks, she says. Local residents are responsible for their own safety. The local authorities have not taken any security measures.
a deadly precedent
“Everyone is worried,” says Mohammad Zarif. “Last night, when people went to the mosque, we blocked the entrance to the street with cars so that no one could enter the neighborhood,” he tells RFI.
A young man intervenes: “We believe in God and that he will help us. But we don’t know how to keep our streets safe. Yes, we can search people when they pass by, for example. But we can’t do anything against someone who wants to blow themselves up from the street,” he admits.
Four months ago, at least 12 people died in this neighborhood after the explosion of two bombs.
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